Manna For Whole Bible Christians

The Weekly Portion or Parasha

Manna for whole Bible Christians is built up from the weekly portion used in synagogues. Also known as the Parasha, which is Hebrew for portion, the Weekly Portion is a method of splitting up the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) along with some other readings (like from the prophets) into weekly sections or portions to help with reading the Word on a regular basis.

There is a three-cycle and a one-year cycle. In the three year cycle the Torah is divided to cover three years. In the one year cycle the Torah is covered in one year, making the portions larger. We like the one-year because we think we need to read as much as possible. Others like the three-year cycle because the portions are smaller and reduce the amount of material in a week that is covered.

But there are four drawbacks we see to the three-year cycle. One is that the parasha is intended to supplement the daily reading of the Bible, not replace it. We should be encouraging the daily reading of large chunks of the Word by everyone. People tend not to read, so we need a pattern in our meetings that encourages a lot of daily reading. The second problem is that no matter how small the portion we can always learn more. In other words, looking at a few verses in depth doesn't mean we exhaust the meaning or applications. No matter how much we examine, analyze, break down, or deconstruct, it seems there is always something missed. The third drawback is that reading smaller portions just gives more room for man's opinions and ego. We end up spending more time listening to the opinions of a man than we do to the Living Oracles of God. The fourth drawback is that we lose context with the whole of the Word. We tend to disconnect sections from each other and lose the big picture.

But either way, it is a good idea to read the Word on a daily basis, and these schedules simply help with pacing.

We have added readings from the first five books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts) to our Manna schedule. We have a booklet that we make of the one-year cycle. Just click the link below for the printable pdf.

This Year's 'Manna for Whole Bible Christians' free pdf booklet, for Printing

The link gets you to the booklet in pdf format, ready for printing. If your printer can print both sides at the same time (has a duplex function) then in the Properties make sure it's set up for printing both sides and just print. If you have a printer that cannot print both sides at the same time, print the odd pages first, then put those pages back in the printer upside down (or however your printer works) and print the even pages. Then fold the pages in the middle and staple. You'll have a nice booklet that you can keep with your Bible for reference.

Link to free calendar program with Feast Days, Readings, and other stuff

This link will take you to a page where you can download a free calendar program for your computer with dates for the biblical Holidays, readings, and other stuff on it. Great reference tool we use all the time for our Manna Booklet and the charts below. Made by Rick Spurlock.

The Parasha or Portion Chart, 1 Year

This chart (below) comes from our booklet (link above). The columns are: Portion number; the transliteration of the Hebrew portion name (each portion has a name); the English name translation, the Hebrew book name transliteration; the English book name; and the chapter:verse of Torah, the prophets, and the New Testament. The long row is for extra readings that relate to the Parasha.

The portion number starts with the Sabbath after Tabernacles. There are 54 portions, but some of them are usually combined, depending on the relationship of the harvest festivals (Passover and Tabernacles) with the solar year. Each portion also has a Hebrew name, which we've transliterated for you (spelled it like it sounds) and given an English translation. We did the same with the book names too. The extra readings are Scriptures where some of the subjects in the Parasha are talked about or quoted directly in other places. They also help connect Scriptures together.

The Hebrew name is a link to a page in our forum, called Berea, that has commentary on the Parasha, usually by Bruce Scott Bertram. Or, in the case of the feasts, it is a link to an article.

We don't have to use this schedule. It isn't the best in some opinions. But using this schedule can unify us in weekly Bible reading. If you like a different chart, by all means use it. It is more important that people are reading the Word than how we schedule that reading.

Sometimes two portions will be added together. This is because the seasons shift compared to the Parasha schedule. So a 'leap month' is added (about every four years) to bring them back in line with each other, but it just affects the reading schedules (and the timing of God's feasts or festivals (Leviticus 23)). To find out which portions are added together, print out the booklet above. It also has a little more information on the calendar shift.

The main readings take about 30 to 40 minutes to read out loud in a group meeting taking turns reading. We like to do this, with kids as young as 8 taking their turn. There's something about reading the Bible out loud that is different than reading by yourself. Try it and see what we mean. Encourage everyone to read at least the Parasha for that week before they come to a meeting.

Parenthesis around verse numbers are the Protestant Bible verses, which differ slightly in their numbering from the Hebrew Bible.

MANNA FOR WHOLE BIBLE CHRISTIANS - THE SCHEDULE

PASSOVER, UNLEAVENED BREAD, FIRST FRUITS

PENTECOST, FEAST OF WEEKS

TRUMPETS - DAY OF THE AWAKENING BLAST

DAY OF ATONMENT, YOM KIPPUR

TABERNACLES - FEAST OF BOOTHS - FEAST OF NATIONS